INFRASTRUCTURE

THE SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO MAKING BEST USE
OF THE EXISTING RAIL AND ROAD NETWORKS. THAT MEANS THAT
TRANSPORT ISSUES WILL NEED TO BE ADDRESSED FROM THE OUTSET IN
PLANNING FOR FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.

103. The competitiveness of places depends on
adequate investment in infrastructure. Improvements in transport
infrastructure are needed to strengthen international links, tackle
congestion, reduce journey times between our cities and support our
rural communities. Parts of our electricity transmission network
need to be strengthened if we are to realise the potential of our
renewable energy resources. New installations are needed for the
more effective management and recycling of waste. Developing local
heat distribution networks can help us to achieve much greater
efficiency in our use of energy and resources. To ensure the
sustainability of these investments, the implications of a changing
climate must also be considered. For example, greater investment in
catchment and coastal management may be needed to reduce the risk
of flooding. In some areas the capacity of water and drainage
infrastructure needs to be increased to support economic growth and
regeneration.

NATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

104. Legislation provides for the National
Planning Framework to be used to designate certain projects as
national developments. Designation in the Framework is the
mechanism for establishing the need for these developments in
Scotland's national interest. The Government has indicated that
major transport, energy and environmental infrastructure projects
may fall within this category of development. In a statement to
Parliament in September 2007, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and
Sustainable Growth announced that projects which may be identified
as national developments are those which:

make a significant contribution to Scotland's sustainable
economic development;

strengthen Scotland's links with the rest of the world;

deliver strategic improvements in internal connectivity;

make a significant contribution to the achievement of climate
change, renewable energy or waste management targets;

are essential elements of a programme of investment in
national infrastructure; or

raise strategic issues of more than regional importance
(projects with impacts on more than one city region, for
example).

105. On the basis of an assessment against these
criteria, the Scottish Government has identified the following
projects as national developments (see Map 10):

Statements of need in respect of each of these developments are
set out in the
Annex. As developments of national
importance, the Scottish Government expects their design to be of a
high quality. Given the Government's climate change targets, it
will be important to ensure that they are designed to minimise
their carbon impacts. Care must also be taken to avoid damage to
the integrity of sites protected under the
EU Habitats Directive.
Mitigation or compensation measures may be needed to counteract any
adverse effects on emissions or Natura 2000 sites.

TRANSPORT

106. Scotland needs an effective national
transport infrastructure which will facilitate sustainable economic
growth. A clear, long-term vision is vital because transport
infrastructure can take a long time to deliver and has a lifespan
measurable in decades. It also helps to give developers and
transport operators the certainty they need if they are to commit
to major strategic investments.

107. We need to reduce journey times and make them
more reliable; make connections which build and sustain economic
growth; and improve links between cities, towns and rural
communities throughout the country. The Scottish Government is
committed to international efforts to promote more sustainable
patterns of transport in order to minimise climate change and
protect the global environment. A key challenge is to break the
link between economic growth and increased traffic and
emissions.

108. The strategic outcomes set out in the
National Transport Strategy are to:

improve journey times and connections, to tackle congestion
and the lack of integration in transport;

reduce emissions, to tackle the issues of climate change, air
quality and health improvement; and

improve quality, accessibility and affordability, to give
people a choice of public transport, where availability means
better quality services and value for money or an alternative to
the car.

109. The Scottish Government is committed to
making best use of the existing rail and road networks. That means
that transport issues will need to be addressed from the outset in
planning for future development. Development plan land allocations
must take account of the availability of existing public transport
infrastructure and the capacity of transport networks. Promoting
higher densities and mixed use development close to public
transport nodes will be important in urban areas. In rural areas
public transport is not a practical answer to all travel needs,
though well developed local service networks can help to reduce the
need for long distance travel. The Government is preparing guidance
to support a proportionate but effective approach to transport
appraisal and modelling for development planning and
management.

110. The Scottish
Government is committed to expediting the replacement Forth
crossing and electrification of the main rail line between
Edinburgh and Glasgow. Transport infrastructure commitments for the
period to 2012 include implementation of the Airdrie - Bathgate and
Borders rail link projects; new surface rail links serving
Edinburgh and Glasgow airports; continuing improvements to
Edinburgh's Waverley Station; removing the bottleneck at the Raith
junction on the M74; completion of the motorway network by
delivering the M74 Extension and upgrading of the A8 and A80 to
motorway standard east of Glasgow; and construction of the Aberdeen
Western Peripheral Route.

111. It will be necessary to address significant
development pressures over the next 25 years, particularly on the
east side of the country where the population and the number of
households are growing most rapidly. Investment will be needed to
maintain and enhance essential transport infrastructure, support
urban expansion, improve access to facilities and services,
facilitate sustainable economic growth, and strengthen
international gateways for passengers and freight. Ports and
airports providing international freight and passenger links will
need to be supported by an effective road and rail
infrastructure.

MAP 5 STRATEGIC TRANSPORT CORRIDORS

112. There is a need to tackle congestion and
improve public transport links between and within our cities.
Improved connectivity can help unlock the potential of priority
areas for regeneration such as the Clyde Corridor and Ayrshire,
enabling more people to become economically active. Improvements in
transport infrastructure are needed to support economic activity
and improve access to facilities and services in our rural areas.
It will be important to ensure that key locational decisions, and
the investments in transport infrastructure necessary to support
them help to move us towards a more sustainable, low carbon
economy.

113. For the period from 2012, the Strategic
Transport Projects Review (
STPR) has
developed a programme of interventions, based on an analysis of
constraints and opportunities in 20 strategic corridors, the urban
networks of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee and the
strategic nodes of Perth and Inverness (see Map 5). The National
Planning Framework reflects the outcome of the Review.

External Links

114. Economic success will depend on good
connections with the rest of the United Kingdom and global markets.
Scotland's position on the Atlantic seaboard makes it particularly
important to respond to the changing geography of Europe and the
development of European markets. We also need to strengthen links
with North America and the developing economies of Asia.

115. The European Union (
EU) is Scotland's largest
market for goods and the number of tourists from European countries
is growing. The European Spatial Development Perspective recognises
the importance of strengthening West-East links in Northern Europe
and the first Framework identified reviving historic links with the
Baltic Region as offering particular potential. The economies of
the countries of Eastern Europe have been developing rapidly. With
good connections, their business and leisure markets offer major
opportunities. The
EU is promoting the
development of a well-functioning and sustainable Trans-European
Transport Network ( TEN-T) comprising roads, railways and shipping
routes. The Scottish Government will press for the TEN-T network to
be extended to North-East Scotland. It will also ensure that the
strategic needs of key national and international cargo and ferry
links are taken into account in considering improvements to road
and rail infrastructure.

116. The Scottish Government is strongly committed
to promoting a shift to more sustainable modes of transport.
However, given Scotland's geographical position, good air links are
vital for international connectivity and competitiveness. Air links
to their countries of origin are important to the people from other
parts of Europe now contributing to the Scottish economy, and good
international connectivity will be a crucial factor in encouraging
more people to come to live and work in Scotland. The tensions
between providing support for necessary air travel and reducing
harmful emissions are addressed in more detail in the Environmental
Report.

117. In promoting enhancements at our airports,
the Scottish Government is placing emphasis on measures which
improve surface access by public transport. The Government has
announced that a new station serving Edinburgh Airport will be
built at Gogar on the Fife rail line. The construction of the
Dalmeny chord, a new line linking the Fife and Edinburgh - Glasgow
routes, will allow trains between Glasgow and Edinburgh to stop at
the airport station. An interchange with the Edinburgh tram link
will facilitate onward travel to the airport by public transport.
The West Edinburgh Planning Framework safeguards land to meet
long-term requirements and recognises the potential of the area in
the vicinity of Edinburgh Airport as an international business
location capable of attracting shared service centres for
world-class companies.

118. Glasgow Airport will continue to serve
business and holiday markets. Preparatory work for the Glasgow
Airport Rail Link has started and it is expected that the first
trains will be running by the end of 2011. The Glasgow and the
Clyde Valley Structure Plan safeguards land to meet the potential
operational needs of the airport to 2030. At Prestwick Airport
there is a need for improvements to rail and bus interchanges and
potential for the further development of associated service
businesses. Development plans safeguard land for future
requirements at Aberdeen and Inverness airports.

119. The services offered by Edinburgh, Glasgow
and Prestwick airports are in some respects complementary and there
may be potential for strengthening connections between them.
Linking our main cities and airports with higher speed trains could
offer a much wider choice of destinations, allow mass passenger
transfer between airports, and open up the South-West to more
visitors. Increased capacity on rail services between Prestwick
Airport and Glasgow city centre will be the minimum requirement
over the next 25 years.

120. Cross-Border road and rail links are of prime
economic importance and congestion and lack of infrastructure
outwith Scotland can have an adverse impact on access to Europe and
other parts of the
UK. The economic benefits
of tourism can be spread more widely if more of Scotland can be
brought within 3 hours of major English cities. There is a need to
improve journey times and the frequency of rail services to key
destinations such as London, Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham.
Reducing journey times on routes between Aberdeen and Newcastle
would improve the connectivity of knowledge economy clusters on the
East Coast. Improvements to the West Coast Main Line would allow
more cross-Border freight to be moved by rail. The Scottish
Government will work with the
UK Government and other
bodies to strengthen cross-Border transport links.

121. A regular and reliable 4-hour journey time on
existing lines between Central Scotland and London would help to
make the train more competitive with flying. London's high speed
link to the Continent makes it possible for a journey such as
Inverness to Marseilles to be completed in a day. However, the
scope for further increases in speed on the existing rail network
is limited. The Scottish Government is in discussion with the
UK Government on the
development of a high-speed rail link to reduce journey times
between Central Scotland and London to under 3 hours and provide
direct rail services to the Continent.

122. Ports make a vital contribution to the
economy and are modernising to meet projected long term growth in
world trade. A growing proportion of freight is containerised. The
number of containers handled by Scottish ports has been increasing
and is expected to continue to increase in the long term. On the
East Coast, the Firth of Forth is a key strategic freight gateway
and there is potential for further expansion of port capacity,
including container freight facilities. There is potential to
handle coastal services from English ports as well as more
international traffic, thus promoting the movement of a higher
proportion of containerised freight by sea.

123. The Grangemouth area contains Scotland's
largest container port, with important European, Baltic and global
connections. Approximately 9 million tonnes of cargo are handled
through its docks each year and there is scope for further
expansion. Forth Ports is concentrating its Scottish freight
business at Grangemouth and has announced plans for the
construction of 1 million sq ft of warehousing. English, Welsh
& Scottish Railway Holdings Limited plans to offer direct rail
freight services to Continental Europe from Grangemouth.
Grangemouth is also home to most of Scotland's petrochemical
industry. Improvements to strategic road and rail infrastructure
will allow the area to function to its full potential as an
intermodal freight hub.

MAP 6 FREIGHT TRANSPORT

124. A substantial area of reclaimed land
immediately to the west of the Rosyth dockyard offers the
opportunity to create a new container terminal as part of the wider
development of Rosyth as a key East Coast port. The location has
the potential to offer deep water berthing accessible 24 hours a
day. It can be made accessible by sea, road and rail, making it
suitable for multi-modal operations.

125. The Ireland - United Kingdom - Benelux
Euro-route follows the A77 and A75 trunk roads via Cairnryan,
Stranraer and Dumfries. Stena Line plans to develop a new gateway
port on Loch Ryan. The Scottish Government is already committed to
spending more than £80 million to upgrade the A75 and A77 and
the
STPR
identifies further improvements as a scheme for delivery from 2012.
In addition, Ireland's National Spatial Strategy recognises the
potential for moving freight through Scotland to avoid congestion
on routes to England's East Coast ports and the matter is being
pursued by the British - Irish Council.

126. The Government is committed to supporting the
expansion of direct ferry links from Scotland. The Rosyth -
Zeebrugge service resumed under a new operator in May 2009. The
potential for a new ferry route between Kristiansund in Norway,
Shetland, the
UK and Continental Europe
has been market tested by the partners involved and a preferred
operator is taking the project forward. The Scottish Government and
the Northern Ireland Executive are funding an economic appraisal of
the case for restoring the ferry service between Campbeltown and
Ballycastle.

127. The international trend is towards larger
container vessels and few existing European ports offer the channel
and berth depths necessary to accommodate the largest container
ships. Against this background, the sheltered deep water locations
at Hunterston and Scapa Flow offer substantial opportunities for
developing new transhipment and gateway facilities linked to world
shipping routes (see Map 6). The Ayrshire Structure Plan safeguards
Hunterston for the development of an international transhipment
hub. The realisation of this potential will depend on efficient and
effective access through the road and rail network. Orkney Islands
Council is currently assessing the potential environmental impacts
of establishing an international container hub at Lyness on the
island of Hoy.

Internal Connectivity

128. The Forth road crossing at Queensferry is a
key element of Scotland's national transport infrastructure. It is
vital to the economy of Fife, an essential link for the East Coast
Corridor and crucial to the connectivity of Perth and the Highlands
and Islands. The Government is taking forward its replacement as a
matter of priority.

129. The Government is focusing on reducing rail
journey times between cities and making best use of the rail
network for commuting journeys into city and town centres.
Electrification of the rail line between Edinburgh and Glasgow will
allow up to six trains an hour between them, with express services
travelling from city centre to city centre in around 35 minutes,
allowing the two cities to function as a single economic entity.
Planned investment in all routes across Central Scotland could mean
as many as 13 services an hour between the two cities within 10
years.

130. Expanding the capacity of the rail network to
accommodate the projected growth in passenger and freight traffic
will involve the use of longer trains, some new track, the
provision of new and lengthened platforms, improvements in
signalling and new information systems. To serve differing
passenger needs, fast connections between the major cities will
need to be complemented by services stopping at intermediate
stations. Facilities which allow convenient interchange with other
modes of transport are also needed. Planning policies should aim to
maximise the use of existing services, stations and terminals
before considering the need for new ones.

131. There is a need to widen the range of
services to and from our main cities and, in particular, to tie
areas to the South and West of Glasgow more closely to the major
centres of the Central Belt. The Government is committed to
providing the additional capacity needed to support expanded rail
services from Waverley and Haymarket Stations in Edinburgh.

132. While marginal reductions in short journey
times are not as important to passengers as punctuality,
reliability and comfort, significant reductions in longer journey
times can deliver worthwhile economic benefits. Bringing Dundee,
Aberdeen, Inverness and Newcastle closer to the Central Belt can do
a lot to strengthen economic relationships between the city
regions. Reducing journey times between Aberdeen and Inverness will
help us to capitalise on synergies in the North-East and Highland
economies. The scope for developing functional relationships is
increased where travel times can be reduced below 60 minutes.
Packages of measures have been identified to reduce train journey
times between Inverness and Edinburgh by 35 minutes, and to cut
around 20 minutes off train journey times between Aberdeen and the
Central Belt. The construction of a new rail line between
Inverkeithing and Halbeath would allow journey times through Fife
to be reduced.

133. For trunk
roads, the Government is focusing on tackling congestion where it
affects journey time reliability, targeted enhancement of capacity,
managing demand on the network and addressing the accessibility
needs of rural areas. Work on the M74 extension between Fullarton
and the M8 at the Kingston Bridge is underway. The projects to
upgrade the A8 between Baillieston and Newhouse and the A80 between
Stepps and Haggs to motorway standard are both expected to be
completed in 2011. The completion of the Aberdeen Western
Peripheral Route in 2012 will improve the flow of traffic round
Aberdeen and improve connectivity between the North-East and the
Central Belt. Improvements to some of the key junctions on the A720
Edinburgh City Bypass would reduce conflicts between strategic and
local traffic and reduce journey times between concentrations of
economic activity in the Edinburgh city region. The A82 and A83
trunk roads are key strategic routes for the Highlands and Islands.
Targeted improvements between Glasgow and Fort William have been
identified as a priority by the
STPR. The
Government is already committed to further improvements to
nationally strategic trunk routes, including the A9, A96, A75 and
A77. Many roads in the Highlands and Islands and the South of
Scotland are lifeline routes for rural communities and of critical
importance to the local economy. Their continued maintenance and
improvement is essential to ensure the safety of the network and to
support long-term development.

134. Connectivity is a particular challenge for
island communities. While substantial progress has been made in
providing bridge and causeway links to and between islands,
overcoming the physical barrier of sea crossings remains a major
challenge in the Highlands and Islands. Recognising the vital
importance of ferry services in supporting island and other rural
communities, the Scottish Government is undertaking a comprehensive
review to identify what improvements should be made to meet future
needs. It has also commissioned a study to establish the most
effective and sustainable structure for a Road Equivalent Tariff (
RET) scheme, based on the evaluation of a pilot project for
services to and from the Outer Hebrides, Coll and Tiree.

135. Waste, biomass and timber movements are of
increasing significance. The closure of landfill sites can result
in waste having to be moved further. Timber harvesting is set to
increase to 2020 as our commercial forests mature. The Government
will work with local authorities and the forestry industry to
improve access to plantations to ensure that maturing timber can be
harvested. Increased levels of harvesting means that movements of
timber and other forest products will grow significantly. With
improvements to infrastructure, more of this material could be
transported by rail or water.

Sustainable Transport and Land Use

136. The Scottish Government will work in
partnership with local authorities to support the development of
local sustainable transport initiatives, including improved walking
and cycling opportunities and the completion of a national cycle
network well connected to local neighbourhood networks.

137. Progress towards more sustainable modes and
patterns of transport will involve encouraging active travel,
reducing the need for motorised travel, developing quick and
efficient public transport networks which provide attractive
alternatives to car use, and strengthening rail and water-based
freight distribution networks. Scottish planning policy encourages
improvements to active transport networks to support more
sustainable travel choices. The challenges for planning are to
create urban environments which facilitate walking and cycling; to
ensure that new residential development is well related to existing
public transport networks and designed to accommodate the extension
of public transport services; and to concentrate business and
retail activity at locations which minimise reliance on the private
car. The renewal of existing urban areas can help to counter the
trend towards long-distance commuting. Park-and-ride facilities,
the design of the urban environment and parking restrictions can
help to discourage car commuting into city centres.

138. To achieve a significant shift to more
sustainable modes of travel, public transport services will have to
meet the need for mobility and be fast, reliable and cheap. They
will have to offer good connections and facilities for interchange
and be supported by integrated ticketing and good passenger
information systems. Integrated ticketing from gateway to
destination and improved rail and bus services on popular routes
could help to make our tourist visitors less dependent on the car.
Demand responsive transport solutions may have a role to play in
urban and rural areas.

139. Short-haul journeys between conurbations are
where rail services can most readily replace air travel. Rail
offers the best alternative to the car for inter-city and long
distance commuting journeys. Light rail, trams and buses are better
suited to commuter and other trips within urban areas. Buses are
the most frequently used and widely available mode of public
transport. They are flexible and can be introduced quickly where
new demand is identified. In many rural areas, they are the only
viable public transport option.
Buses - Moving into the Future sets out an action plan for
the development of bus services. The
STPR
has identified the need for strategic park-and-ride facilities
which would significantly improve public transport accessibility to
our city centres. There is likely to be scope for further ferry and
hovercraft services for firth crossings and on coastal routes.

140. The City of
Edinburgh Council plans to have its tram line between Newhaven and
Edinburgh Airport operational by 2011. Strathclyde Partnership for
Transport (
SPT) and
Glasgow City Council are developing proposals for Clyde Fastlink, a
dedicated bus route serving key locations on the Clyde Waterfront
which is designed to be capable of being adapted to light rail. The
Government wants to make it possible for everyone attending the
Commonwealth Games to arrive by public transport or non-motorised
means. A study commissioned by the North East Scotland Transport
Partnership (
NESTRANS)
is looking at how best to deliver Aberdeen Cross-rail, a project
involving the provision of new stations and improved rail services
between Stonehaven and Inverurie.

THE GOVERNMENT WILL PURSUE THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
MEDIUM TERM PROGRAMME OF ELECTRIFICATION IDENTIFIED IN
'SCOTLAND'S RAILWAYS'.

141. The Government is committed to developing
incentives such as the Freight Facilities Grant and Waterborne
Freight Grants to encourage the movement of a higher proportion of
freight by rail and water. It will be important to ensure that
significant freight-generating uses are located as close to the
rail network, strategic freight facilities and ports as possible.
Research on sustainable freight facilities concluded that
development of a number of interchanges at strategic locations on
the transport network would help to promote modal shift. There is
considerable potential for the development of short sea shipping
routes between
UK ports.

142. Of the 2,736 miles of rail track in Scotland
only 23% is currently electrified. This results in a significant
reliance on diesel trains which contribute to CO
2 emissions. The Government will pursue the
implementation of the medium-term programme of electrification
identified in
Scotland's Railways together with an extension to
Grangemouth over the period to 2014. Electrification of the entire
strategic rail network based on renewable and clean power
generation would substantially reduce emissions and the Government
believes that this must be the long-term objective. The focus will
be on heavily trafficked routes in the first instance.

143. The canal
network is currently an underused component of our transport
infrastructure. It has links to some of Scotland's major ports and
could be used to remove non time-critical freight from the road and
rail networks if supported by the development of appropriate
facilities. British Waterways Scotland is taking forward plans
designed to stimulate greater use of the network and bring new life
and mixed use development to the canal environs. The Caledonian
Canal can play a role in strengthening water-based connectivity
between Scandinavia and Ireland.

ENERGY

Renewable Energy

144. While the target of generating 50% of the
electricity we use from renewable sources by 2020 is likely to be
met, we also need to derive a higher proportion of our energy
requirements for heating and transport from renewable sources. In
line with
EU objectives, the
Scottish Government is committed to working towards deriving 20% of
total energy use from renewable sources by 2020. It has consulted
on a framework for the development and deployment of renewable
energy technologies prepared in co-operation with the Forum for
Renewable Energy Development in Scotland (
FREDS).

145. The
Government is committed to establishing Scotland as a leading
location for the development of renewable energy technology and an
energy exporter over the long term. It is encouraging a mix of
renewable energy technologies, with growing contributions from
offshore wind, wave, and tidal energy, along with greater use of
biomass. The aim of national planning policy is to develop
Scotland's renewable energy potential whilst safeguarding the
environment and communities.

146. The harnessing of renewable sources of energy
is effecting a radical change in Scotland's energy economy, and the
location of many of these resources means that rural areas are well
placed to benefit. As wave, tidal, biomass, solar, hydrogen and
offshore wind technologies continue to develop, they will become
more competitive and commercially attractive, allowing them to make
large contributions to Scotland's energy mix over the next 25
years. Hydro-power and onshore wind are the renewable technologies
likely to make the largest contributions initially and biomass
should begin to make a significant contribution in the next decade.
Given the potential environmental impacts, there is probably
limited scope for new large hydro-electric schemes. However, there
is significant interest in the development of small-scale schemes
on watercourses and canals and the potential to link hydro-power
development with pumped storage. Scotland has one of the best
environments in the world for wave and tidal generation and marine
technologies have the potential to make a major contribution in the
longer term. A strategy for the development of marine renewable
energy is being prepared.

147. The potential of some renewable energy
technologies has a strong spatial dimension. The Crown Estate has
identified the Moray Firth and a zone to the East of the Firths of
Tay and Forth as locations with potential for the development of
offshore windfarms. The north and west coasts offer a number of
locations with very substantial potential for harnessing the energy
of tidal streams. Further environmental assessment of Scottish
coastal waters is being undertaken to inform locational
decisions.

148. The Fife Energy Park at Methil demonstrates
the potential for adapting coastal facilities created to support
the oil and gas industry to new uses related to the development of
renewable energy. There may also be opportunities to site new
renewable energy facilities where they can take advantage of the
transmission capacity released by the closure of existing power
stations. Biomass plants should be sited where they can make best
use of locally available resources.

149. Small-scale renewable energy projects can
make a valuable contribution locally. They can play a vital role in
supporting the sustainable development of remote rural and island
communities in particular. Cumulatively, they can make a
significant contribution to the development of a more decentralised
pattern of energy generation. Their local environmental effects
will need careful management.

150. The Scottish Government is assisting planning
authorities with the preparation of supplementary planning guidance
on the location of wind farms. It is also participating in a
UK-wide project to
identify technical solutions to potential conflicts between wind
farm developments and radar systems. In parallel, it is working to
promote regional solutions to potential conflicts between civil
aviation radar and wind farms in the South of Scotland Terminal
Manoeuvring Area.

Baseload Power Stations

151. Given the variable output of some renewable
sources of energy, large baseload power stations will have a role
to play in maintaining the stability of electricity supply for some
time ahead. While important elements of Scotland's existing
baseload generating capacity are scheduled to close over the next
10 years, steps are being taken to extend the lives of existing
power stations and develop new ones.

152. Low carbon fossil fuel technologies mean that
coal-based electricity generation can continue to make an important
contribution to Scotland's energy mix and Scottish companies are
world leaders in the field. For example, the Scottish Power owned
Longannet station is on the shortlist of the current
UK carbon capture and
storage competition. The
UK Government, working
with the Scottish Government, plans in principle to fund 4
demonstration carbon capture and storage projects, with one of
these being the competition winner, subject to a consultation in
summer 2009. Other potential locations for carbon capture and
storage projects include Hunterston, where there is capacity to
accommodate a major new clean coal fired power station, and
Peterhead, where the technology could be applied at the existing
gas plant. As a general principle, the Scottish Government
considers that new generating plant should be sited adjacent to
existing thermal power stations, where it can make use of existing
supporting infrastructure (see Map 10). The Scottish Government is
currently considering which mechanisms might be put in place
through its consenting powers to ensure that carbon capture and
storage technology is installed at new and existing baseload
stations as soon as possible, with the aim of decarbonising the
electricity generation sector by 2030.

MAP 7 ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION SYSTEM

153. British Energy has announced that the
Hunterston B nuclear power station in North Ayrshire will continue
to operate until at least 2016. The nuclear power station at
Torness will continue to make a contribution until at least 2023.
The Scottish Government does not support the construction of new
nuclear power stations in Scotland. It favours the timely
decommissioning and environmental remediation of redundant nuclear
power stations and related buildings and recognises that sites will
be needed for new waste management and disposal installations to
support decommissioning activities generally. It will expect site
operators to work closely with planning authorities and
SEPA in
the design and siting of radioactive waste management
installations.

Fossil Fuels

154. The oil and gas industry continues to make a
major contribution to Scotland's economy. The development of
Atlantic oil and gas reserves may create requirements for further
storage, treatment and support services on the Shetland Islands,
the Outer Hebrides and the West Coast.

155. There are large extractable reserves of coal
in South and Central Scotland. Coal is won by opencast methods
across the Central Lowlands from Ayrshire to Fife and permission
has been granted for workings in Dumfries and Galloway.

156. The methane held in coal beds deep beneath
Central Scotland is estimated to be equivalent to at least 10% of
Scotland's gas demand for the next 25 years. Most of these coal
beds are well located in relation to existing gas pipelines and,
given their proximity to our main coal-fired power stations, there
is potential for combining the extraction process with carbon
capture and storage. Planning authorities in the Central Belt
should consider the potential for onshore gas extraction when
preparing their development plans. As the pipe network required to
facilitate gas extraction would extend across local authority
boundaries, authorities may need to work together to develop a
consistent planning policy framework.

Electricity Transmission

157. The pattern of the existing electricity grid
(see Map 7) reflects the relationship of existing power stations to
settlement. New capacity for the generation of electricity from
renewable sources is being developed across Scotland. However, much
of this is in remoter coastal and upland areas and requires to be
transmitted to centres of population through the grid. The capacity
of parts of the system needs to be increased to facilitate this
transmission. Given the long lead-in time for electricity
transmission projects, much of this work must be taken forward
soon. There is a presumption in favour of adequate grid connection
for areas which planning authorities identify as preferred areas
for renewable energy development.

MAP 8 TRANSMISSION SYSTEM REINFORCEMENTS

158. The electricity market regulator, Ofgem, has
the role of approving, on the basis of an economic assessment,
investment in potential upgrades proposed by the Scottish
transmission system owners. Ofgem has approved a number of
transmission system reinforcements as "baseline projects". These
include:

the Beauly-Denny line project;

the upgrading of the substation at Sloy (which already has
planning permission);

increased north-south transfer capability in Central
Scotland;

a new South-West Scotland transmission line and associated
infrastructure; and

strengthening the Scotland-England interconnectors.

The Ofgem assessment does not remove requirements for
Electricity Act and planning consent.

159. In addition to the "baseline projects", the
Scottish transmission system owners have identified a number of
further key reinforcements. Sub-sea links will be essential to
realise the substantial renewable potential of the Outer Hebrides,
Orkney and the Shetland Islands. Upgrades to the existing Beauly -
Dounreay, Beauly - Keith and East Coast transmission lines will be
required. Central Scotland and Argyll are other areas where the
transmission system needs to be strengthened. While grid
reinforcement is likely to take place along existing routes, some
new connections and route modifications may be necessary (see Map
8).

160. The reinforcements which the Scottish
Government proposes to designate as national developments are shown
on Map 10. They will require to be accompanied by a programme of
landscape maintenance and enhancement. In identifying these
reinforcements, no assumption is being made about the need for
transmission, or transmission routes, between Beauly and Denny. The
decision on that matter will be made by Scottish Ministers in the
light of the recent public inquiry into the application by Scottish
Hydro Electric Transmission Limited and Scottish Power Transmission
Limited for consent under section 37 of the Electricity Act.

161. In March 2009 the Electricity Network
Strategy Group published the report
Our Electricity Transmission Network: A Vision for 2020,
identifying grid reinforcements necessary to meet
UK and Scottish renewable
energy targets. The report concludes that reinforcement of the
land-based interconnectors to England and new sub-sea cables off
Britain's west and east coasts would provide sufficient
transmission capacity to allow up to 11.4 GW of power to be
generated from renewable sources in Scotland.

Sub-Sea Grid

162. The Scottish Government is committed to a
strategic approach to electricity transmission and looking to how
the system might evolve beyond currently programmed upgrades, with
a particular focus on export. It is in discussion with North Sea
partners and the European Commission on proposals for a North Sea
grid, to take electricity from Scotland and other countries in the
northern North Sea direct to major continental markets. It is also
working with the governments of the Republic of Ireland and
Northern Ireland to investigate the potential for developing
sub-sea cable routes to harness marine energy resources to the west
and south-west of Scotland. By connecting geographically dispersed
regions, a sub-sea grid (see Map 9) would offer the additional
advantage of smoothing out variations in output from sources such
as windfarms as weather patterns move across Europe.

Heat

163. About 50% of Scotland's energy demand is for
heat. While the main energy source for heating is currently gas,
Scotland has one of the best climates in Europe for the solar
heating of buildings. Higher building standards and improved
insulation can substantially reduce heating requirements. There is
considerable potential to derive more heat for domestic, business
and industrial purposes from sources such as waste and biomass and
by using ground, water and air source heat pumps. Better use can
also be made of the heat produced by electricity generation,
industrial processes and anaerobic digestion. Many of these sources
of heat can be harnessed at a domestic, local or community level,
but some require larger scale operations. The Scottish Government
is committed to helping to build a commercially viable and diverse
heat industry and has consulted on a Renewable Heat Action
Plan.

Decentralised Production

164. The Government is keen to facilitate the
development of a more dispersed pattern of energy generation and
supply as part of the response to the climate change challenge.
This will involve encouraging community and household heat and
power generation, the decentralisation of generation capacity and
the development of local heat networks. The efficiency of power
stations can be substantially increased by capturing the heat
produced by electricity generation to warm our buildings. Advances
in technology which allow heat to be transmitted efficiently over
longer distances may create scope for developing heat networks
based on some of our existing power stations. Harnessing components
of the waste stream and other biomass offers the potential to
develop new, smaller combined heat and power (
CHP) stations
close to communities. In some areas, particularly in rural
Scotland, wood or other biomass may provide the most appropriate
fuels for local heating schemes. Investment in transmission and
distribution networks may be required to facilitate more
decentralised patterns of electricity generation.

165. Planning authorities have an important role
in facilitating more decentralised patterns of energy generation
and supply. They should take account of the potential for
developing heat networks when preparing development plans and
considering major development proposals.

WASTE MANAGEMENT

Municipal, Commercial and Industrial Waste

166. Waste management infrastructure has an
important part to play in realising the Scottish Government's
objective of a greener Scotland. The targets set by the
EU Landfill Directive
necessitate a move away from landfill, and recognition of the
substantial potential of waste as a resource. Currently, we have
capacity to divert some 1 million tonnes of municipal waste from
landfill. This will need to be increased to some 1.5 million tonnes
by 2010, over 2 million tonnes by 2013 and some 2.5 million tonnes
by 2020. Additional capacity will also be required to treat
commercial and industrial waste. Development of the necessary
infrastructure is a Government priority.

167. Key elements of the Scottish Government's
Waste Policy are:

increasing the proportion of municipal waste recycled or
composted to 40% by 2010; 50% by 2013; 60% by 2020; and 70% by
2025;

reducing the proportion of municipal waste going to landfill
to no more
than 5% by 2025;

stopping the growth in municipal waste by 2010;

a 25% cap on energy from mixed municipal waste;

a requirement that energy from waste plants achieve high
efficiency in terms of energy recovery; and

the preparation of a revised National Waste Management Plan
which will set targets for reducing the amount of commercial and
industrial waste sent to landfill.

168. The planning system has a crucial role to
play in ensuring that installations are delivered in time to allow
waste management targets to be met. Planning authorities should
facilitate the provision of a network of waste management
installations which enable the movement of waste to be minimised
and
EU and national targets
to be met, taking account of opportunities to derive energy from
waste and develop local heat networks. To support the Government's
drive towards a low carbon economy, relationships between waste,
heat and other forms of energy must be fully considered by planning
authorities at an early stage in the preparation of development
plans and in determining major planning applications. Provision for
the additional waste management capacity required at city-region
level must be made in strategic development plans. The 25% cap on
energy from municipal waste will apply at the local as well as the
national level and will be a material consideration in development
management decisions. The Scottish Government will publish separate
guidance on its operation.

169. Other types
of waste management infrastructure will include recycling and
composting installations, anaerobic digestion plants, transfer
stations and plants to turn recycled materials into products.
Relevant considerations in the siting of installations will include
proximity to sources of waste, the transport network and the
relationship of intermediate transfer and treatment installations
to tertiary waste management installations. Modern treatment and
transfer centres are contained facilities which can be accommodated
on industrial estates. Where possible, they should be located close
to the population centres they serve. They should be linked to
tertiary waste management installations in a "hub and spoke"
arrangement, where possible by rail or water.

170. The forthcoming National Waste Management
Plan may identify a need for a number of national installations to
deal with particular waste streams. Any such installations are
likely to be designated as national developments in the third
National Planning Framework (
NPF3).

Radioactive Waste

171. Scottish Government policy on higher activity
radioactive waste is currently being developed. However, in
accordance with the proximity principle, it is likely that
facilities to manage this waste will be required at locations close
to its source of origin.

172. The decommissioning of the former nuclear
power research site at Dounreay in Caithness forms part of a
programme of investment in specialised infrastructure designed to
treat and manage radioactive waste safely. Highland Council has
granted planning permission for a low level radioactive waste
facility at Dounreay. A further facility will be needed in the
South of Scotland for radioactive waste arising from processes
elsewhere. These facilities will be developed in line with the
Policy for the Long Term Management of Solid Low Level Radioactive
Waste in the United Kingdom published in March 2007.

173. Radioactive waste also arises from the
healthcare sector, the oil and gas industry and educational
establishments. At present certain types waste are sent to England
because no disposal route exists in Scotland. With the support of
the Scottish Government, strategies are being developed on a
UK-wide basis for both
nuclear and non-nuclear industry low level radioactive wastes, to
ensure that effective treatment and disposal routes exist
throughout the
UK.

WATER AND DRAINAGE

174. The renewal
of water and drainage infrastructure involves substantial
investment over a significant period of time. It is therefore
important to ensure that Scottish Water's long-term investment
programme is based on a thorough assessment of needs, including the
Government's priorities for economic and housing development, area
regeneration and environmental improvement.

175. Scottish Water is undertaking a £2.5
billion investment programme between 2006-10. Priorities for the
improvement of water and drainage infrastructure between 2010 and
2014 have also been identified. Amongst the objectives set by
Scottish Ministers is a requirement to provide sufficient strategic
infrastructure capacity to meet the needs of all estimated new
housing developments and the domestic requirements for commercial
and industrial developments over the period to 2014. Ministers will
ensure that development needs continue to be taken into account in
subsequent regulatory periods. Scottish Water is working with local
authorities and developers to ensure that it prioritises the
development of new strategic infrastructure in accordance with its
quality investment programme, the spatial priorities identified in
this Framework and the priorities identified by planning
authorities in their development plans. Generally, lack of capacity
in water and drainage infrastructure should no longer be a
significant constraint on development.

176. In the West
of Scotland, the Metropolitan Glasgow Strategic Drainage
Partnership has a key role to play in facilitating regeneration on
the east side of the Glasgow conurbation, including realising the
potential of the Clyde Gateway and delivering the facilities for
the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Substantial investment in water and
drainage infrastructure will also be needed to support expansion in
the A96 Corridor between Inverness and Nairn, and the expanded
communities to be served by the Borders rail line.

WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND FLOODING

177. The projected increase in flood risk as a
consequence of climate change has implications for the siting of
new development, the protection of existing development, coastal
defence and the safeguarding of cultural heritage. Reference to
SEPA's
internet based map of areas at risk from flooding will help to
inform decisions on the location of development and the provision
of mitigation and attenuation measures where vulnerable sites have
been selected for development.

178. The Government is committed to an integrated
approach to the management of water, encompassing environmental
protection, public health, flood risk management, the supply and
drainage infrastructure required for development, and aquaculture.
Improving the quality of the water environment can help to create
healthier ecosystems, deliver substantial amenity and recreational
benefits and contribute to urban regeneration. The Water
Environment and Water Services Act 2003 provides a framework for
the sustainable management of water resources. Comprehensive river
basin management plans are being prepared, based on an analysis of
all human impacts on water systems. The plans will be published in
2009, and will set environmental objectives for individual water
bodies. Planning authorities will have to have regard to them when
preparing development plans.

179. Sustainable catchment management measures
have an important part to play in providing long-term solutions to
problems of flooding. They can also be integrated into wider
greenspace and ecological networks. By taking a catchment based
approach, we can minimise the risks to people and property and
tackle the causes and effects of flooding. Flood risk can be
reduced by slowing the flow of water to burns and rivers. This can
be achieved by increasing the capacity of natural features such as
wetlands, meanders and flood plain woodlands as well as by
engineered flood protection structures. Canals should also play a
role in catchment management and flood risk reduction. The Scottish
Government's Flooding Risk Management Act modernises the framework
for sustainable flood management. Local authorities and
SEPA will
work together to produce flood management plans identifying
measures to secure an integrated approach to flood risk
reduction.

COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY

180. Access to
modern information and communications technology is now vital for
business and Scotland's geography makes the delivery of
comprehensive coverage challenging. The Scottish Government has
therefore intervened with a programme of investment which has made
broadband accessible to over 99% of households. Scotland is now one
of Europe's leaders in broadband availability, placing it in a
strong position to take advantage of the economic opportunities
offered by modern communications technologies. In addition, the
Scottish Government is committed to delivering broadband to those
individuals and businesses who have reported that they do not yet
have access through the
Broadband Reach Project, in a contract worth up to
£3.3 million.

181. In February 2009, Ofcom, the
telecommunications regulator, announced a package of measures
designed to encourage the roll-out of next-generation broadband
throughout the
UK. The current focus of
Scottish Government support for high capacity broadband is on
improvements to digital connectivity in the public sector,
including health and education facilities and local authority
premises. For example, Pathfinder projects are delivering scalable,
high-capacity broadband to all schools (and many other public
sites) in the Highlands and Islands and the South of Scotland, with
a Government contribution of £93m.

182. The planning of major infrastructure projects
such as railways, roads, tunnels, pipelines and electricity cables
should take account of opportunities to extend the digital
communications network. The switch to digital television between
2008 and 2012 may create opportunities to provide new community
information, shopping and entertainment services.